LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking to a reporter vostarday, the Hon. D. HitfWn stated that tho plans' for the new Dominion Museum are veil under way. It was intended, he continned, to make provision for tho accommodation of tho whole of tho exhibits which have, at one time or another, been donated to or secured for the institution. Owing to the limited space in connection with the present building, there were innumerable articles which could not at present be exhibited. When the new building became an accomplished fact, visitors would find among the exhibits an exceedingly complete series of specimens rMating to Native lite. In addition there were many exhibits bearing upon the early Fottloment of tho Dominion which wero extremely interesting. A poll which was taken yesterday of ratepayers of th« Jlakara Killing of the Makar'a County Council in regard to the proposal to ruise h special loan of JiGOUO for the purpose of constructing a road over the Ma-kara Hill resulted in thirtytliroo votes being cast in favour of tho loan and forty-four against. Tho proposal was therefore lost so far as this riding is concerned.

The New Zealand Pliiireincy Board continued its sittings yesicrday. The question of reciprocity with Australia in the matter of registration was discussed, and the principle was affirmed. The proposals for amending (he Pharmacy Act uml tlio Poisons Act wire completed. Bills will be dratted for submission to Parliament, and representations on these subjects will be made in the proper quarters. It was decided that the next Pharmacy Board Conference should bo hold at Auckland .about Jloi'ch, 1012.

I Tlio orphans and destitute children in tlm Duiu'ilin and Wellington Homes are bstlrr led, and better clad, and better cared for in respect of all material things than the children of many of our home missionaries (writes the Hew Dr. Uilil) in the- Presbyterian "Outlook"). It is a shame to us that 'these things arc so. "flow—l have asked this question often, and 1 ask it again—how can wo hope to induce nioii to lako up our homo mission work while this state of matters continues? It isn't that we are poor and cannot give. Suitable missionaries would not be lacking if that wore so. But you cannot get men jo serve a Church that can give and won't. And yet, as I have said, I am perfectly certain the prople would do their duty if only you could make them see that it is their duty. The solution of tlio problem must be the appointment of an agent, who will go through the Church, louse our members to a realisation of the requirements of the situation, organise our stations, correct abuses, and generally speed on the work." The Hon. T. Mackenzie amused the chemists at their dinner last night by talking politics in terms of .pharmacy. if you want a real good fizz," he prescribed, "take Sir Joseph Ward, whom I will call tartaric acid, and Mr. Jlnssey, whom 1 would call something else and I would add a little water—put them together, and you will have a first-class 'fizz.'" Another of Mr. Mackenzie's prescriptions was a joko against his own nationality. He had had the story from an Irish police constable, who had recovered the body of a Scotchman from the Matauni liivcr, and was asked at the inquest: "Did you do anything to resuscitate the deceased?" The pol'.eoman, who did not know the meaning of the big word, answered promptly: "Share, I felt his pockets." "That," added the Minister, with a smile, "is the best pos; sible way of resuscitating a Scotchman. A general meeting of the New Zealand Society of Accountants was held at the Chamber of Commerce last evening tor the purpose of discussing matters relating to the constitution and rules of the society, legislation, and suggested amendments and rescissions of regulations passed in December last. The proceedings were largely of al technical nature, and were protracted till a late hour, the conference extending from 7.30 p.m. till midnight. The council of the society will continue its sittings to-day. Just as shifting cargo was regarded b> sea captains us perhaps Hie greatest danger to any vessel, so, contended tlio Rev. Dr. Fitchett, in his address at one of tlio meetings of tho Methodist General Conference id Adelaide Town Hull, was "shifting cargo" a great danger to a Church. "We have a deal of shifting cargo in all our Methodist chnrches,'' he said. "Whenever nuy crank comes along and travels tho land with a strange gospel ho is sure to gather some followers out from Methodism. Those people- might bo Methodists one day, Plymouth Brethren another, and Dowieites on tho morrow." He thought (hero would be less of that if more people s intelligence were balanced and trained with tho aid of good literature. (Applause.) The new procedure which was recently adopted at tho Magistrate's Court on civil days was departed from yesterday, when the Cov.vt, instead of dealing with judgment: sumr. at 10.30, made an early start on a. defended case. As each side only had one witness to call, it was hoped to get on .with the business in the ordinary way by 10.30 a.m., but voluminous correspondence ran the case on until midday. The result was that the various solicitors engaged m judgment summons eases, several of whom simply had applications to make, iyero kept about the Court the whole morning.

"Don't you think that this purchase was verging on luxury?" asked the presiding magistrate, during the liearing ol the evidence of a judgment debtor, a Civil Servant, with a salary oi £M per annum and a family of ten children, who was called upon to show why he coum not pay a debt of .£6 for a carpet square. Debtor explained that at the time he made the purchase he was in better circumstances.. He then had i a grown-up eon at home, contributing to Hie upkeep of the household, but tho son'had now married. Tho only others in the family earning monev wcro two girls, who helped .their mother a little.. Another drain on the family purse was' witness s superannuation fund payments. ■ His Worship would not make an order for tmo payment of the debt.

Divorce cases will bo taken before • the Chief. Justice in the Supreme Court lit 11 o'clock to-day.

A private cable messugo has been received from Melbourne stating that Mr. Fred Graham, the' popular comedian, who is going into management, has en"a"ed Mr. Kay Souper and his wife, Miss Florence Gretton, of the Oscar Asche Company, for his tour. Mr. Souper, itwill bo Tcmembsred, was the actor .who, when playing in Sydney recently, was injured in a stage duel fought with Mr. Ascho in "Count Hannibal."

The Rev. Dr. Fitchett told his followMethodists in Adelaide duiing tho conference that most young men nowadays wero content to read novels and the newspapers, lie was not there to speak ill of novels, as he probably read iuoro of them and survived the process than anyone present. He had even written some, (Laughter.) He did a great lot of nowspaper reading, too; but was proud of the press of Australia, which Sir Charles Lucas had said would compare with any under tho heavens. (Applause.) They could speak highly indeed of the Adelaide press. "But," he argued, "if you ore content with a novel and the newspaper, do not pretend to know literature.' . Great was the magic of books, and unifies men know Riiskin, Be Quincey, and Stevenson, they did not know their mother tongue—the music, the range, and the power of it. It was , a pity somo young fellows did not give up watching a football match occasionally in order to read "To Let Unfurnished." If they liiirt to liaiig that label on a young fellow's head, what future was there for him ?—Adelaide "Register."

A somewhat singular disappearance is reported from Balclutha. A young girl from the Awamungu direction came to the town last week without tho consent of her father. He discovered her whereabouts in Balclntha, and desired her to get ready and return home. The girl weut into her bedroom to dress, but disappeared through the window, and her whereabouts are now a matter of surmise.

The Hoi>. T. Mackenzie was in anecdotal mood at the chemists' dinner last iiiglit. He illustrated from Ins own experience the power of suggestion in theransuties. Once, on an exploring tour, he met with a Maori woman, who said she was suffering from heart disease, and insisted on regarding him as n doctor. Accepting the situation, he placed a pair of compasses under one of the patient's arms, and an eneroid under the other, inspeoted her tongue, and prescribed. The woman had a rapid, and perfect ours,

An interesting lecture on " The Geology of New Zealand" was given before Hie members of St. Peter's ■ Club last evening by Mr. J. W. Poynton. There was a very good attendance of members, and the lecture was followed with deep attention and interest, a hearty vote of thanks being accorded the lecturer at the close. Replying to a deputation which waited upon him' at Auckland on Tuesday in regard to telephone charges, Sir Joseph Ward stated that it cost the Department an average of 4Jd. to earn the 3d. that was now charged for bureau communication. In those cases in which tho telephonists were not salaried officers, they received one-half of the fees collected, and this anil the clerical work involved made the cost greater than tho sum received. He intimated that these, call fees would probably be raised to W. Messrs. Levin and Co., of Wellington, have secured land-near the Patea railway station, and plans arc now being prepared for the erection of a brick building by Mr. J. 15. Hoc, of llawera. The firm intend lo carry on a purely wholesale business, and expect tho depot lo prove a great pmivcnionco to their inauv clients between New Plymouth and'Woitotara. Tho new building is to bo "Oft. by 120 ft.. and comprise office, general store and bond. In addition There will be a kerosene store 60ft. by 25ft.

Tho annual "social" of Hie Joliit-on-ville Cricket Club was hold in the Parish Ha'll on Wednesday night. Over 100 guests were present, ami a very enjoyable time was spent. The. following contributed to (he programme:—Mrs. Sloane, Misses Orr and Bramley, Messrs. Cath-cai-t, Julilf, Kelly, and Dentley. In replying to the toast of "The Manufacturing Industries" at • a valedictory banquet in Christchurch, Jlr. G. T. Booth asked: What kind of a. person would a visitor from another sphere to this consider u manufacturer to be from a perusal of the statutes affecting labour, the fulininations of the Trades and Labour Council, and. the denunciations of the Cathedral iiqijari! agitators who call themselves Socialists? He was very much inclined io believe that the manufacturer would be regarded as a nitin who poisoned the uir with the smoke of his factories, as one who generally ground the fnces of the p00r,., and who was constantly required .to be under surveillance with a Court specially set up to try him for his offences. He (Mr. Booth) did not know what the Dominion would have been without the manufacturers to develop its resources. It would not be so happy or so prosperous as it was if it had no manufacturers. Wages would not be so high and the cost of living would be increased, besides which Wiev would not be brought into touch with the outer world. The train which passes through -Shannon from Wellington at about half-past nine in ithe morning was responsible, for tile death of two valuable greyhounds on Tuesday (says the "Horowhenua Chroniclo"). The animals were scampering along the'railway line near Shannon Station, when they were frightened by tho noise of an approaching train, which was tjloso at. hand. Both dogs at unco sprang' in front of the engine, and were, thrown on to one side by the cowcatcher. Before they were able to regain their feet fatal injuries • had been received. Sir. F. Smith, of Feilding, who is staying in Shannon, was the owner of tho animals. Two acres of land set apart for railway purposes at New Plymouth have been allocated by the Government for a street;